About the Scholarship
Each year, the fund will provide $1,000 to 5 Indigenous students who are in the first two years of their education journey in the fields of Early Childhood Education, Indigenous Midwifery or Law. The awards will be awarded in July of each year.
The scholarship is intended to support Indigenous students who brought the same energy, passion and love for community into their learning.
The scholarship fund is held at the Ottawa Community Foundation and is managed by the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition and the family of Karen Green.
Donating
Consider donating to the Karen Green Fund to help annually support Indigenous students.
About Karen Green
On January 10th, 2025 colleague and friend, Karen Green went to the spirit world. Karen Green was an extraordinary woman who dedicated her life to making life better for Indigenous people in Canada and particularly Indigenous women. She was an advocate and leader who left an incredible legacy. At the OAC we honour her by continuing her work, being a humble leader that she was, remembering her laugh and kindness and brilliance and knowing our worth. To honour Karen, we established the Karen Green Scholarship Fund.
Born in Belleville, Ontario, Karen spent her early childhood in Point Anne, moving with her family to Tyendinega when she started high school. Karen valued education and continued her education journey at Trent University (BA in Political Science) and at Queen’s University (law degree), arriving in Ottawa in the early 1980s to article, begin her professional career and make Ottawa her permanent home.
Karen believed in community and played key roles throughout the voluntary sector. She leaves us at this time being the President of the Makonsag Aboriginal Head Start Program, Chair of the Kenhtè Midwives Board in Tyendinega, a director on the Board of CHEO, a director on the board of Andrew Fleck Children’s Services and a member of the Pow Wow Pitch. On behalf of the OAC she was the co-chair of the Housing and Homelessness Governance Committee and recently took up the position of Vice Chair of the Ottawa Community Benefit Network Steering Committee.
Despite all of her accomplishments and work, the strongest sense of Karen was one of humble leadership. She wanted to always support Indigenous people, the Indigenous community and the broader community. She truly lived that we are all part of one circle, one world.
"I want to do something worth doing,
I want to be someone worth knowing"
From Karen's Grade 8 Essay on her Life
Scholarship Recipients
The first Recipients of the Karen Green Scholarship are three incredible Indigenous women. We have taken excerpts of their submission letter to showcase their amazing dedication to community. Click to learn more about each Recipient.
How to Donate
The Karen Green Scholarship Fund is housed at the Ottawa Community Foundation. To donate please go to the link or click the button below.
